The Djiboutian franc (Arabic: فرنك, French: Franc, Somali: Faranka) is the currency of Djibouti. Its ISO 4217 currency code is DJF. Historically, it was subdivided into 100 centimes.

Djiboutian franc
  • Franc djiboutien (French)
  • الفرنك الجيبوتي (Arabic)
  • Faranka Jabuuti (Somali)
5 Djiboutian francs, minted in 1991.
ISO 4217
CodeDJF (numeric: 262)
Unit
SymbolFdj
Denominations
Subunit
1100centime
Banknotes40 (commemorative), 1000, 2000, 5000, 10,000 Fdj
Coins1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 250, 500 Fdj
Demographics
User(s) Djibouti
Issuance
Central bankCentral Bank of Djibouti
 Websitewww.banque-centrale.dj
PrinterPolish Security Printing Works [pl]
 WebsitePolska Wytwórnia Papierów Wartościowych
Valuation
Inflation2.1% (2015 est.)
 SourceThe World Factbook, 2013 est.
Pegged withU.S. dollar = 177.721 francs

History edit

 
100 Djiboutian francs (1977).

From 1884, when the French Somaliland protectorate was established, the French franc circulated alongside the Indian rupee and the Maria Theresa thaler. These coexisted with 2 francs = 1 rupee and 4.2 francs = 1 Maria Theresa thaler.

From 1908, francs circulating in Djibouti were legally fixed at the value of the French franc. Starting in 1910, banknotes were issued for the then colony by the Bank of Indochina. Chamber of Commerce paper money and tokens were issued between 1919 and 1922.

In 1948, the first coins were issued specifically for use in Djibouti, in the name of the "Côte Française des Somalis". In 1949, an independent Djiboutian franc came into being when the local currency was pegged to the US dollar at a rate of 214.392 francs = 1 dollar. This was the value which the French franc had under the Bretton Woods system until a few months before. Consequently, the Djiboutian economy was not affected by the further devaluations of the French franc.

In 1952, the Public Treasury took over the production of paper money. French Somaliland's change of name in 1967 to the French Territory of the Afars and the Issas was reflected on both the territory's coins and notes. In 1971 and 1973, the franc was revalued against the US dollar, first to a rate of 197.466 to the dollar, then 177.721, a rate which has been maintained ever since. A further change in coin and banknote design followed independence in 1977.

Coins edit

 
10 and 20 Djiboutian francs, reverse (c. 1991 and 1983).

Between 1920 and 1922, the Chamber of Commerce issued tokens struck in zinc, aluminium, bronze and aluminium-bronze in denominations of 5, 10, 25 and 50 centimes and 1 franc. Shapes included round, hexagonal and octagonal.

In 1948, aluminium 1, 2 and 5 francs were introduced. Aluminium-bronze 20 francs were introduced in 1952, followed by 10 francs in 1965. Cupro-nickel 50 and 100 francs were introduced in 1970, with aluminium-bronze 500 francs added in 1989.

From 2013, new coins of 250 francs were put in circulation to complement the other denominations.

Coins of the Djiboutian franc (1977–present)
Image Value Technical parameters Description Dates
Obverse Reverse Diameter Thickness Mass Composition Edge Obverse Reverse Year of minting Year of issue
    1 franc 23 mm 1.4 mm 1.3 g Aluminum Smooth Coat of arms of Djibouti Head of waterbuck 1977, 1996, 1997, 1999 1977
    2 francs 27.1 mm 1.4 mm 2.2 g 1977, 1991, 1996, 1997, 1999
    5 francs 31.1 mm 2.3 mm 3.75 g 1977, 1986, 1989, 1991, 1996, 1997, 1999
    10 francs 20 mm 1.3 mm 3 g Aluminium-bronze Djibouti harbour 1977, 1983, 1989, 1991, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2017
    20 francs 23.5 mm 1.45 mm 4 1977, 1982, 1983, 1986, 1991, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2007, 2010, 2016, 2017
    50 francs 25.5 mm 2.1 mm 6.9 g Copper-nickel Milled Two dromedaries 1977, 1982, 1983, 1986, 1989, 1991, 1997, 1999, 2007, 2010, 2016, 2017
    100 francs 30 mm 2.3 mm 12 g 1977, 1983, 1991, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2017
    250 francs 29 mm 2.1 mm 10g Bimetallic: copper-nickel centre in brass ring Djibouti francolin 2012 2012
    500 francs 28 mm 3 mm 12.9 g Aluminium-bronze Smooth Laurel wreath 1989, 1991, 1997, 1999, 2010 1989
These images are to scale at 2.5 pixels per millimetre. For table standards, see the coin specification table.

Banknotes edit

Banque de l'Indochine, 5 French Somaliland Francs (1943).

Between 1910 and 1915, banknotes were introduced in denominations of 5, 20 and 100 francs. Chamber of Commerce notes were introduced in 1919 in denominations of 5, 10 and 50 centimes and 1 franc. The decline in the value of the French franc following World War I caused 500 and 1000 franc banknotes to be introduced in 1927 and 1938, respectively. 10 franc notes were introduced in 1946.

When the Public Treasury took over the production of paper money in 1952, the 5, 10 and 20 franc notes ceased production and 5000 franc notes were introduced. In 1970, the 50 and 100 franc notes were replaced by coins. In 1977, the National Bank of Djibouti took over production of banknotes. The only subsequent changes have been the introduction of 10,000 franc notes in 1984 and the replacement of the 500 franc note with a coin in 1989.

Banknotes of the Djiboutian franc (1979–1988)
Image Value Main Colour Dimensions Description Date of issue
Obverse Reverse Obverse Reverse Watermark Year of printing Year of issue
    500 francs Multiple colors 140 × 75 mm Man at left, rocks in sea, storks at right Stern of ship at right Coat of arms of Djibouti 1979, 1988 1979
    1000 francs Red 152 × 81 mm Woman at left, people by diesel passenger trains at center Trader with camels at center 1979, 2005
    5000 francs Multiple colors 162 × 87 mm Man at right, forest scene at center Aerial view 1979
    10,000 francs Brown and red 170 × 90 mm Woman holding baby Fish and harbor scene 1984 1984
Banknotes of the Djiboutian franc (1997–2009)
Image Value Main Colour Dimensions Description Date of issue
Obverse Reverse Obverse Reverse Watermark Year of printing Year of issue
    1000 francs Red 155 × 70 mm Ali Ahmed Oudoum Port of Djibouti Coat of arms of Djibouti 2005 2005
    2000 francs Blue 160 × 80 mm Young girl and camel caravan Statue with shield and government building 1997, 2008 1997
    5000 francs Violet 168 × 80 mm Mahmoud Harbi Dancers 2002 2002
    10,000 francs Green 175 × 81 mm President Hassan Gouled Aptidon Central Bank building 1999, 2009 1999
Banknotes of the Djiboutian franc (2017)
Image Value Main Colour Dimensions Description Date of issue
Obverse Reverse Obverse Reverse Watermark Year of printing Year of issue
    40 francs Multicolored 153 × 70 mm Whale shark, corals Port of Djibouti Coat of arms of Djibouti 2017 2017
These images are to scale at 0.7 pixel per millimetre. For table standards, see the banknote specification table.

Exchange rate edit

Current DJF exchange rates
From Google Finance: AUD CAD CHF CNY EUR GBP HKD JPY USD EUR JPY
From Yahoo! Finance: AUD CAD CHF CNY EUR GBP HKD JPY USD EUR JPY
From XE.com: AUD CAD CHF CNY EUR GBP HKD JPY USD EUR JPY
From OANDA: AUD CAD CHF CNY EUR GBP HKD JPY USD EUR JPY

See also edit

References edit

  • Krause, Chester L.; Clifford Mishler (1991). Standard Catalog of World Coins: 1801–1991 (18th ed.). Krause Publications. ISBN 0873411501.
  • Pick, Albert (1994). Standard Catalog of World Paper Money: General Issues. Colin R. Bruce II and Neil Shafer (editors) (7th ed.). Krause Publications. ISBN 0-87341-207-9.